Hospital bed



Jan. 27, 1942. o, MEHR 2,271,201

HOSPITAL BED Filed May 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l O. MEHR HOSPITAL BED Filed May 25,. 1958 Jmzv, 1942,

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wg M.; ATTO Y` Y Jan. 27, 194.2. o. MEHR 2,271,201

HOSPITAL BED Filed May 2:5, 19:58 s sheets-sheet s lNvENToR Oo Me/zr f ATTO Y 'n Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES oFF-ICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a bedsuitable for the use oan invalidand is of the kind which iscommonly known as a hospital bed.

An object of the inventionis to produce `a bed y of this :general character which possesses such features .of design that a doctor, nurse or attendantzmay have access to the .occupant of the bed to examine, treat vor care for said patient with the least discomfort l.and inconvenience to the patientand with .the least effort and strain on the part of the doctoror nurse.

The bed disclosed herein is so constructed-that the lower part thereof is divided longitudinally so that .the .parts oneach side of the dividing :line may be separated one .from the other sufficiently far to venable a doctor orrnurse to have .access to the patient `by Yplacing themselves between the two divided portions of thellower part of the-bed.v

tion or may be placed in anyrpositionbetween a sitting `position and a horizontal position.

Another advantage incorporated in this'struc- .ture is that provision is vmade for assistingthe nurseor-doctor to turn the patient over onhis or her side either to the right or the left, and, if need be, hold the patient in any intermediate position. This is accomplishedby dividing the upper part of the bed longitudinally and hinging both'sides-along this longitudinal middle line andk (ors-c6) v and elevating .it to .a .point A:where it vcan most conveniently :be :used by the patient.

. These .and other objects .will be apparent to those lskilled .in the art upon further study `of V5 the ,disclosurev which follows.

providing means for raising each side separately in a comfortable yposition when a nat or horizontal position is not the most comfortable or desirable one.

Still a further object of the device is to provide means for supplying a commodefoed pan .or similarxutensil tothe patient with the least inconvenience tothe nurse or the patient, and to do this in a sanitary vwaywhich will accomplish the Vdesired .purpose-as expeditiouslyas possible.

Another lobject of the invention is to `provide The gunes of .theydrawings ,are .as follows:

Fig. l is ,a plan yView of .the bed with the various mattress :supportingsurfaces disposed ina horizontal :plane and the two leg supporting portions-separated;

Fig. 2 is a section through 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section through 3-3 of Fig. l'

Fig. 5 .iisjarseotion through :5- 5 of Fig. 1,'

Eig.,6;isa perspe.ctive view of the ,frame-members of v.the .bed Without .any .'Qnerating .mechansm, to illustratethe adjustable features of the various .mattress 'supporting :portions of @the bed.;

1n describingA Ythis :bed .the .top .and bottom .or head and Afoot of ,the .bed will be used ,to `designate the ends commonly v.occupied .by .the Ahead `and the feet of an .occupant .and the lleft and right sides correSDQDid with Ithe left .and right 'hands of an occupant lying on his back in the bed.

The bed comprises three fmain .sections (see Fig. 6) a head section H, aleft ,lower section L normally used gto support the -left legand-avright lower section -R vnormally used to support ,the .right leg. In the construction show-n, each section rests onfourle'gs. -.fIhe legs supporti-ng sec tion H-.are numbered I, .-2,3and 4,the legs supporting `section Llarefshown: at \5 6, ,'I and `8.and `the legs supporting sectionR lare shown at E1, I0,-II and l2. 'Ilhemain fframe of each section is of generally rectangular shape and ties ythe ,fourfsupporting legs together at .the tops lthereof to form the supporting or stationary framework 0 ,of Vthe section. ,Such a frame for section H is shown'at I5, for section L at ,.I6, and section 'R at I1. Section I-I is equipped with an auxiliary frame I8 of the same'general shape and dimensions as l-the main frame 'I5 hinged vto the main iframe I5 alonglthe edge to whichfthesections L and R are joined,iwhich isa line running transversely of the bedaboutmidway rbetween the top and bottom thereof. This auxiliary frame 'I8 can vbe raised and lowered on hinges vwhich attach it to the main frame yI5 andvis shown in Figs. 2 and 6 as partly raised.

Auxiliary frame I8, vin tur-n, ris equipped with right and left hand portions lformed by vleft hand yframework y2l) :and right Ahand vframework I-2.I

means for supporting-abcd `pan-orsimilar utensil 55 .which are' hinged to the auxiliary frame :I 8 valong a line running longitudinally thereof substantially midway between the right and left sides of the bed. A pair of blocks 22, to which elements 20 and 2| are hinged,^are attached to frame I8 and form a support upon which the members 29 and 2| may be hinged. These members 2i) and 2| may be raised and lowered and are shown in partially raised position in Fig. 6.

Sections L and R may be moved toward and away from each other by a suitable mechanism which will be described hereafter. They are shown in their separated position in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. Each of these sections L and R is equipped with auxiliary frame members equipped with springs to support a mattress, and are so constructed that the middle portion thereof may be raised.

The auxiliary frame member for portion L is illustrated at 25 and comprises an upper and lower section. The upper section is shown at 25 and the lower section at 21. These sections are hinged together where they join each other and the section 25 is hinged to the main frame I6 at the upper edge thereof. In like manner, the portion R, including main frame I1, is equipped with an auxiliary frame, shown at 29, which frame is made up of an upper section 3i! and a lower section 3| hinged together along the line which joins the two. The upper section 3i! is hinged to main frame I1 along the upper edge thereof.

This is a brief and general description of the adjustable framework of the bed, which enables the head of the bed to be raised and the leg supporting surfaces of the bed to be separated so as to form an aisle therebetween. The auxiliary framework of the lower sections can be raised, as illustrated, at their mid points to form a support for the bent legs of the patient, and they are so designed that they are raised at a point just aboutunder the knees of a normal person. In addition, the upper portion of the bed is equipped with right and left hinged mattress supporting surfaces so that the right or left side of this upper portion may be raised to assist a patient in turning over or to support a patient on his side, if that is desirable or necessary. The mechanisms for accomplishing these various adjustments will now be described in detail.

The auxiliary frame I8 is supported on a pair of links 40 and 4I, which links are connected at their upper ends to the auxiliary frame I8 through a pin connection shown at 42 and 43. The lower ends of links 45 and 4I are attached to longitudinally disposed levers 44 and 45 which are keyed to a cross shaft 46 at their lower ends. A downwardly disposed crank lever 41 is keyed to shaft 45 near the middle thereof. To the lower end of crank 41 is attached a connecting rod made up of three portions pinned together. The lower portion 49 is attached to the crank 41, the upper portion l) is screw threaded, as shown, and the middle portion 5I joins the upper and lower portions together through pin connections, as shown in Fig. 2. The screw portion 5i] of the connecting link is threaded into an internally threaded sleeve 52 which is adapted to rotate freely in the framework I5. A worm wheel 53 is mounted on the outside of sleeve 52. This is adapted to be rotated by a suitable worm 54 which is mounted on a transverse shaft 55 supported in the frame I5 and extending outwardly to the left side of the bed, terminating in a head equipped with a cross pin, as shown at 55, and

adapted to receive a suitable crank socket so that the shaft 55 may be rotated.

Upon rotation of shaft 55, through the worm and wheel the sleeve 52 is turned and this serves to move the portion 5i) of the connecting link in or out of the sleeve and, through the crank 41, rotate the transverse shaft 46 which, in turn, raises or lowers the levers 44 and 45 which are connected by links 40 and 4I to the auxiliary framework I8 near the head thereof so as to raise or lower the head end cf this framework about the hinges 51.

Framework 2G is connected to the blocks 22 near the center of the bed by suitable hinges, as shown at 50 and BI. The outside edge of framework 20 is supported on the ends by a pair of arcuate members equipped with gear teeth. The member near the upper end of the bed is shown at 52 and the member nearer to the lower end of the bed is shown at 63. These arcuate members are adapted to be supported by and move through suitable supporting members, one of which is shown in Fig. 3 at 64. This same supporting member is adapted to support a pinion adjacent to and contacting with the gear teeth cut on the inside of the arcuate members. Such pinion for member 63 is shown at 65 in Fig. 3. Each arcuate member is equipped with such a pinion to move it up and down. The pinions for operating the arcuate members 62 and 63 are mounted on a common shaft 64 running longitudinally of the framework. Upon this shaft is mounted a worm wheel 65 and adapted to cooperate with it is a worm 66 (Fig. 3) attached to a shaft 61 mounted in a bushing Sil supported on framework I5. The end of shaft 61 is equipped with a cross pin 61 to receive a suitable crank, and upon rotation of shaft 61 through the worm and wheel, the shaft 54 is turned and this, in turn, operates the pinions mounted near the ends thereof, one of which is shown at 65', they are in mesh with the teeth of the arcuate members 62 and 63 and serve to raise and lower said members. The upper portion of these members are adapted to recess in a suitable pair of seats mounted on the underside of framework 2G, one of which is shown in Fig. 3 at 69. The upper portion of the arcuate members are not attached to these seats, but are loosely recessed in them.

The frame portion 2l, which corresponds to portion 25 and forms the right hand side of the upper portion of the bed, is raised and lowered with a similar mechanism. The geared arcuate members are shown at 15 and 1l. They operate in suitable guiding and supporting members, one of which is shown at 12 in Fig. 8. Suitable operating pinions are supported in these supporting and guiding members, one of which is shown at 14. This serves to cooperate with the arcuate member 1I to raise and lower it. These pinions are connected to a longitudinally disposed shaft 15 equipped with a worm wheel 16 which is operated by a suitable worm 11 attached to a transverse shaft 18 which is mounted in the framework I5. The end of shaft 18 is equipped with a pin connection 19 to receive a suitable crank. Upon rotation of the shaft 18 by the crank, the shaft i5 is rotated through the medium of the worm and wheel and this, in turn, rotates the pinions, one of which is shown at 14, and these operate the arcuate members 10 and 1I to raise and lower them. The upper end of these members are recessed in suitable seats, one of which fat-'1,2071

is showngat sa alienate members are not 'attached to these seats, but merely cohtat t 'rn when moved upwardly. By means f these mech'- anisms, the outside edges of the auxiliary ame members 20 and y2| may be r'aised or lo-V ered when auxiliary frame 'T8 is 'in a horizontal Vposition.

The sedtionfs vL fand vR are 'cnneted to the sect-ien Pby la siii-tame rabtted track shown in cross-sectionifn Fig. V and vcmdpif'ising the por-v tion '8 1 attached 'to the sect-ion'191 and 'the portion -82 yattached to the section R. Section L is equipped with a similar track, shown jat '8-3, `adapted to cooperate with 'the track 8|. Byt'his arrangement, the sectiox'is L and R'may slide toward and away Yfrom eachother, 'but may not be moved away longitudinally from the section H. For 'moving the'secno'n's L and R toward and away from eachother, the lower edgeof section H is equipped withga screw `'threaded shaft 85 mounted lto "revolve ifr :eyel'y in suitable bearings 86 and 81 on frame-15. This threaded "shaft maybe conveniently disposed immediately under the rabbeted track. `Section rL is equipped ytvitll a nut 89 and section R with a similar nut 90 through vwhich the threaded shaft 65 passes. These nuts are rigidly 'attached to the sections L and R and upon rotation of the shaft 85 'will move longitudinally vthereof and -carry the sections L and R 'toward or awayfrorn each other. Theout'wa'rd movement kof these sections is limyited by collars 80" and''I The right handouter end of `shaft 85, 'as viewed in Fig. 4, is equipped with a suitable rpin '90 for the attachment of a crank. Throughfthis mechanism, the sections L and R may lie brought together 'so that with the section 'H 'they will form a continuous mattress supporting surface of the general shape and configuration of anordinary bed, but when it is desired, these 'portions may be'moved `apart to form an aisleway therebetween. Ithas been found in practice rthat it is 'suflicient to move them apart about twelve or fteen inches.

The 'auxiliary 'frame 25, which is hingedy at |0| and |02 t0 frame |'6 of the SectoififL, is divided into an upr'enand lower section 29 and 21 hinged 'togetherat 'approximately the midpointof the section L. This "mid poin't may be raised or lowered vertically. The upper portion 26 of this movable fifairiew'ork'of section IL'is supported r'on a pair 'of ilinks 9| "and 92. The 'lower end of 'these links -a'r'e connected to a pair of cranks 93 and "94 'whi'eh'are keyedto a'tr'ansverse shaft 95. "Shaft 95 is equipped with a worm level'gear'96 adapt'edto mesh with a bevel gear'g mounted on astub shaft 98"s'u'pp'ted in frame as. A150 mountedbn stub shaftss' and keyed theretois a worm wheel 99' adapted to cooperate with a worm 90 on shaft 98. Shaft 98 is mounted on frame |6. The outer end of shaft 98 is equipped with a cross pin`99 to receive a crank. Upon rotation of shaft 98 through the medium of worm and wheel 90 and 99 and bevel gears 96 and 96', the shaft 95 is turned to raise or lower the cranks 93 and 94 which, in turn, .-are connected through links 9| and 92 to the frame 26 so-that the lower end thereof Will be raised or lowered.. Because of the hinged connection of this portion 26 to the portion 21, which' hinges are shown at |00, the central portion of this auxiliary frame 25 may be raised or lowered to support the legs of the patient when the legs are either bent or straight. The auxiliary frame :member 29 of the portion 1R can likewise be raised .and lowered through a similar mechanism. The

upper portion 'of this auxiliary frame, show-n fat 30, is hinged to the vupper 'edge 'of vthe'section R, as shown at |03 and |04. This 'portion 30 is rsup- 'ported on a pair 'of links |05 and los, which, in

turn, are connected( at lthe 'lower 'nds'thereof to cranks l'01 and |08. At the opposite end of cranks |01 and '|08 "they are keyed to shaft |09 which -is'equip'ped with a bevel gear v||0 adapted to cooperate with a corresponding bevel gear cna stubgshaft-supported in sleeve ||2 mounted in any suitable way (not shown) on -the framework. A'This stub 'shaft is equipped at the lower end thereof with a wormwheel ||f3 adapted to be operated by -a worm H4 Vmounted on A'shaft y| |16 mounted Oh the fir-'amwrk f the twb -l'QWeI portions Of 'tthe bed. This shaft |56 -ls telscpic to provide forti-1e movement of portion R r'elative to portion on which 'the outer -endof shaft H5 i'snu'nte.. This utr end li`seqllflpped with a cross pin |"I1 l-to receive va suitable crank -for rotation of theshafft Upon rotation of shaft I| |6 anduthrou'gh the medium of the Worm Aand wheel lH13 'and I'lt and lthe Ystub shaft'contained 'in sleeve I |52 and the bevel'gears H0 `and 'I H, the shaft |09 is rotated, and by means of cranks vFill and |08 and links AP05 andI |06, the portion 30 may be raised-and lowered. Portion 3| is hinged to portion 30, as Shown at 1| |'8 and I9, with the result that, uponfthe turning 'of shaft H1, the middle portion of auxiliary frame 29 'will be raised or lowered.

Means is provided 'in thisconstruction for supporting a .bed pan or other utensil in a convenient position ybetween the separated vportions R land L. The support comprises a framework made up of a bed'plate'lEtl y(Fig. '7) with four uprghts, two of which lare shown at :|21 an'd |22 and one of which is Yshown at |23. An upper vplate |24 on said uprights has a movable plat form |25 adapted to be moved up and down above the `ujgn'nerplate |24. Four guide members |21, |28, |29`and |30 are attached to the underside of plate |25 and are'a'dapted topass through suitable holes in plate |24 and serve to guidethe plate |25 as it movesup and down in relation to the plate |24. This upper plate |25 is adapted l to Vreceive a bed pan or other utensil, shown at |33. Upper plate |25'is"equipped'with shoulders at the four corners Jthereof, three of which are shown at |31, |32 and "|32. This upper plate `I25 is adapted to receivey any utensils which `might'be of assistance to the nurse or doctor in treating or helping 'a patient, and in the gures is shown with a bed pan |33. The upper supporting plate |25 may be raised or lowered by avsuitlong-.jacklh'andle may be attached l'to the handle receivin'gsha'ft |"3'5 "for operation of this jack. The left side of plate |24, as viewed in Fig. 7, is equipped with a hook |36 adapted to hook around one of the legs of section R to hold the bed pan support in position. A p-in |31 is adapted to recess in a notch |38 located on leg 1 of section L.

To use the utensil support, iirst the lower portions L and R are separated far enough to ac commodate the utensil and supporting platform and then, with the aid if the long jack handle and while the utensil support is in its lowermost position, the support is positioned between the sections L and R and adjacent t0 the lower edge of section H, and, by means of the hook |36 and the pin |31, are loosely attached to the legsA 9 and 1 of the sections R and L, respectively, and

then, upon operation of the jack handle, the upper supporting plate with the utensil thereon is raised into any desired position where it can be most conveniently used. When it is desired to remove the utensil, it is only necessary to lower it to its original position, and with the aid of the jack handle, the supporting mechanism can all be conveniently removed from underneath the bed.

In its normal position, the various sections of this bed are moved together to form a horizontal supporting surface for the mattress or the various sections of the mattress, and, to .all outward appearances, it then resembles an ordinary bed. When it is desired to` adjust any part of the bed, any such adjustment can be made from the left side of the bed. The auxiliary frame I8 may be raised or lowered by turning shaft I5. The sections L and R can be separated by turning shaft 85. The auxiliary frame members 25 and 29 of the sections L and R, respectively, can be raised at the center portions thereof to accommodate the patients legs when they are bent at the knees by operation of the shafts 98 and I I6, respectively.

When it is desired to turn the patient over or to have the patient lie on his side with some support for his back, the auxiliary frame members 20 and 2I attached to the frame member I8 may be raised. This can be accomplished only when the frame member I8 is in its lowermost position. The frame member 20 may be raised by turning the shaft 61 and the frame member 2I may be likewise raised by turning the shaft '18.

All the various controls are on one side of the bed where they may be conveniently reached and the utensil supporting means may also be introduced and operated from this same side of the bed.

The separation of the lower sections L and R will facilitate the use of the Various utensils and, at the same time, facilitate the examination and treatment of a patient because a doctor or nurse can walk up into the space between these two sections to more easily work.

Each of the auxiliary frame members making up the bed may be equipped with suitable bed springs, some of which are shown at S in Fig. l. The bed springs will have to be arranged separately in each section, inasmuch as the sections u form two leg-supporting surfaces, separate sup porting legs and framework for each surf-ace adapted to support each surface separately on the iioor upon which the bed rests, means for separating said leg-supporting surfaces and supporting legs and framework to leave an unobstructed passageway therebetween, or for bringing said surfaces and the supporting legs and framework therefor together to form a continuous supporting surface while keeping said supporting surfaces and supporting legs and framework in substantially parallel relationship to each other.

2. In .a hospital bed, an upper and lower portion, said lower portion divided longitudinally to form two leg-supporting surfaces, separate supporting legs and framework for each surface adapted to support each surface separately on the floor upon which the bed rests, screw control means for moving said leg-supporting, surfaces and said supporting legs and framework apart to leave an unobstructed passageway therebetween, or for bringing them together to form a continuous surface while maintaining them in substantially parallel relationship to each other.

3. In a hospital bed, an upper and lower portion, said lower portion divided longitudinally to form two leg-supporting surfaces, separate supporting legs and framework for each surface adapted to support each surface separately on the oor upon which the bed rests, a track on which one end of each leg-supporting surface and supporting legs and framework is adapted to move, manually operable means for separating said leg-supporting surfaces and supporting legs and framework to leave an unobstructed passageway therebetween, or for bringing said surfaces and supporting legs and framework together to form a continuous supporting surface while keeping them in substantially parallel relationship to each other.

4. In a hospital bed, an upper and lower portion, said lower portion divided longitudinally to form two leg-supporting surfaces, separate supporting legs and framework for each surface adapted to support each surface separately on the floor upon which the bed rests, means for holding and guiding one end of each leg-supporting surface and the supporting legs and framework therefor, means for separating said leg-supporting surfaces and supporting legs and framework therefor to leave an unobstructed passageway therebetween, or for bringing said surfaces and supporting legs and framework together to form a continuous supporting surface while keeping them in substantially parallel relationship to each other.

OTTO lWEI-IR. 

